He is regarded by most NFL Draft media analysts as a top-five to top-10 pick for this year’s venue, but it will be interesting to see where Minkah Fitzpatrick lands in the league.
A former five-star out of Old Bridge, N.J., Fitzpatrick was a superstar at the University of Alabama from 2015 to 2017. After securing a College Football Playoff National Championship and All-American status as a freshman, he would go on to become the anchor of the Crimson Tide’s defense – securing 171 tackles (16 for loss), 26 pass breakups and nine interceptions.
Fitzpatrick holds a school-record of four picks returned for touchdowns and finished his career with a pair of Southeastern Conference title rings, national title rings and a lot of individual accolades. He earned both Chuck Bednarik (college football’s defensive player of the year) and Jim Thorpe awards (college football’s top defensive back) in 2017, while twice receiving the status in being a first team All-American and first team All-SEC selection in 2016 and 2017.
As he pursues a professional career, Fitzpatrick brings range, a high football intelligence and strong coachability to the table. Multiple teams are in need for someone that can perform numerous roles in the secondary; however, this installment of “Potential landing spots former Alabama standouts” will focus on six teams that have the best chance of getting Fitzpatrick.
Cleveland Browns
With him going 1-31 in the last two seasons, including a winless campaign in 16 games in 2017, Cleveland Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson needs all the help he can obtain.
Cleveland will have two of the first five picks of the opening round, selecting at Nos. 1 and 4 respectively. It is understandable that the quarterback position remains an issue for the Browns, but the franchise was also dismal in pass defense. Cleveland finished 19th against the pass with allowing 3,684 yards. Opposing quarterbacks combined for 28 touchdown passes and to 7 picks.
Questions still loom on whether Jabrill Peppers can be an elite defender in the secondary, or should one categorize him as a glorified special teams player. Regardless of him not being at one particular spot in his tenure, Fitzpatrick was able to generate negative plays from various angles.
In a division where Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton refuse to shy away from airing throws to wide receivers, a formidable defensive backfield is on the Browns’ checklist.
San Francisco 49ers
49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan has his quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, but now general manager John Lynch has a chance at getting another high-end defensive standout.
He made splashes in last year’s draft, when he chose Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster, but selecting Minkah Fitzpatrick shores up San Francisco’s secondary. For a team that went 6-10 a season ago, having the ninth overall pick could place a stud across from Ahkello Witherspoon.
As a rookie, Witherspoon had 32 tackles, seven pass deflections and two interceptions.
While the combination of him and safety Eric Reid is good, the 49ers were 22nd in the National Football League in pass defense. Signal callers totaled 3,764 yards (235 ypg) with 27 combined touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Aside from the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC West has elite quarterback talent with Russell Wilson (Seattle), Jared Goff (Los Angeles) and Garoppolo.
Drafting Fitzpatrick gives Shanahan a captain in the secondary, and someone who understands attention to details.
Oakland Raiders
Due to how atrocious Oakland was in pass defense, Jon Gruden was thrown $100 million to leave the ESPN broadcast booth and make a return to coach the “Silver and Black.”
Of the three teams listed, the Raiders were the worst at making opponents one-dimensional – finishing at No. 26 versus the aerial attack.
Oakland surrendered 3,858 passing yards and recorded just five interceptions to 24 touchdown passes allowed. Cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson are cornerstone players with 10 and 12 years in the league respectively, however, the lack of a productive secondary in a quarterback-driven league in not good.
Known for his “Gruden Grinder” segment on Monday Night Football, Gruden can select a grinder in Minkah Fitzpatrick with the 10th overall pick. It would pair the defensive back with former Crimson Tide wide receiver, Amari Cooper, and make him even better moving forward.
Should Fitzpatrick fall from top-10
It is highly unlikely Fitzpatrick drops from the top-10, but there are three teams that would be sitting pretty if it happens.
Head coach Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers currently have the 14th overall pick and needs to add a lockdown piece to its defensive backfield.
Green Bay finished 23rd in the league in pass defense.
Dallas ended the 2017 season one spot outside the top-10 against the pass, yet the Cowboys lack an elite cornerback. Orlando Scandrick is about to enter his 12th season out of Boise State University and has sustained multiple injuries in his career. In having the 19th overall pick, seeing Fitzpatrick with a star on his helmet will intrigue Tide fans who are Cowboy fans.
After seeing what an offensive mind like Sean McVay can do for Jared Goff and others in Los Angeles, all the Rams need for a serious Super Bowl run is a dynamic secondary. It has studs lined up on along the defensive line, at linebacker and safety, but cornerback remains a need.
Los Angeles has the 23rd overall pick in the draft.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
